State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 13 Oct 2025

PM Inaugurates Milk Powder Plant in Indore

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 11th October 2025, virtually inaugurated a milk powder plant in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

• The facility was launched as part of several agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing projects inaugurated during an event in New Delhi, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s rural and agri-based economy. 

Key Points 

• About: Implemented by the Indore Cooperative Milk Union under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), the ₹76.5-crore plant has a daily milk powder production capacity of 30 metric tonnes. 
• Objective: To enhance milk value addition, ensure remunerative prices for dairy farmers, and promote cooperative-led growth in Madhya Pradesh’s dairy sector. 
• Target: Madhya Pradesh aims to increase its current 9% share in India’s total milk production to 20% within five years. 
  • The state government is ensuring fair prices for farmers’ milk and sustained support through various welfare schemes. 
• Significance: The new milk plant enhances rural dairy value addition and employment, promoting self-reliance and empowering cooperatives and women in the dairy sector.

National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD) 

• Overview: Launched in 2014 and restructured in 2021, NPDD is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. 
• Objectives: Aims to strengthen dairy infrastructure, enhance milk production through technical inputs, provide farmer training, and revive viable milk federations and unions. 
• Components: 
  • Dairy Infrastructure: Focuses on building essential infrastructure like milk chilling plants, testing labs, and certification systems, especially in remote and backward regions through Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and Milk Producer Companies (MPC). 
  • Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC): A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted initiative to promote sustainable dairy cooperatives by improving production, processing, and marketing in nine states. 

India’s 1st National Standards for Smart Mobile Toilets

Why in News? 

IIT Indore is spearheading the development of India’s first national standards for mobile toilets, integrating modern technologies such as UV sterilisation, solar power, and on-site waste-to-energy systems.  

Key Points 

• About: The smart toilet model seeks to overcome challenges in conventional sanitation systems that depend on manual cleaning, grid electricity, and high water consumption.  
  • The proposed framework will be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), potentially serving as a national benchmark for mobile sanitation infrastructure across local bodies, industries, and event organisers. 
• Features: 
  • Automation & Smart Design: Incorporates IoT sensors for real-time hygiene monitoring and maintenance alerts. 
  • Sustainability: Powered by solar energy with continuous UV-based sterilisation and waste-to-energy conversion. 
  • Enhanced Safety & Accessibility: Focuses on women’s safety and dignity through secure entry systems, ergonomic design, and improved lighting. 
• Application: The model will be proposed for deployment during Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, an event expected to attract over 15 crore visitors.  
  • Its adoption could revolutionise sanitation management during mass gatherings by ensuring environment-friendly and efficient mobile facilities. 
• Global Insights: For developing the framework, the IIT Indore team studied global sanitation systems in the UK, Germany, France, and Switzerland, integrating best practices in automation and sustainability into an indigenous design suited to Indian conditions.